Eagles Attack a Nissan Truck

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Sarah Myers

It’s almost Memorial Day, and in the season of patriotism, we’d like to show you the following funny video. Apparently in the town of Unalaska, Alaska (yes that’s the town’s real name), a man parked his Nissan in a Safeway parking lot, and also there might have been a trash bag full of fish in his truck bed…

A swarm of bald eagles quickly swooped in to attack the fish, and neither the truck owner nor those parked near his truck were able to get to their cars in fear of being attacked by the eagles. Eventually police were called in to break up the all you-can-eat bird buffet. So if you’ve ever wanted to see a bald eagle, the recipe may involve some travel to Alaska, and lots of fish!

Tarantino’s Stolen Malibu from Pulp Fiction Has Been Found

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Sarah Myers

While Jim Sigel may not be too close to Hollywood, we still enjoy good movie star drama every once in a while. Pulp Fiction fans would be crazy not to remember Vincent Vega’s 1964 Chevrolet Malibu Convertible. It’s also a well remembered fact that the car personally belonged to director Quentin Tarantino. In a movie drenched in automotive references, the Malibu is very nearly a character in and of itself, and it serves as the subject of Vega’s soliloquy about the kind of man who vandalizes another’s automobile. Apparently the vehicle was stolen not long after production wrapped on the movie, and has been MIA for almost 20 years now.

Police have recently located the Malibu, which underwent the old “switcheroo” with another vehicle’s VIN number. It turns out the thieves cloned the VIN from another ’64 Malibu and had the car registered under the new digits. It was then sold to an unsuspecting buyer. Police happened upon the duplicate VINs while investigating another potential theft. Right now, it’s unclear whether Tarantino has taken possession of the Chevrolet, if it has remained in the possession of the fraud victim, or whether it’s caught somewhere in the gears of justice. We’re just glad it had been located after all these years!

What to Pack for Your Roadtrip

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Sarah Myers

As vacation and roadtrip season is coming, it’s always a good idea to be prepared in advance for everything that can or will go wrong, especially if you are traveling with kids. If you are already dreading hearing, “Are we there yet?” this list might help the hours go by with ease!

A Tote for Picnic items

If you plan to stop for food somewhere other than a restaurant, it’s a good idea to have the paper plates, silverware and trash bags handy. Pack this tote last in the car for easy access when you open the back/truck. It’s also a good idea to keep some hand sanitizer, a table cloth and a good knife handy.

Important Phone Numbers

If you own your own car, like most of us do, it’s a great idea to keep phone numbers for your insurance agency for auto and homeowners handy. The last thing you want is to get stranded somewhere or in an accident and not know who to call. If you belong to AAA, it’s also good to program their local and national phone numbers into your phone.

A Collapsible Cooler

Always have a snack and drink on hand for the kids to avoid unwanted stops for a rumbly tummy. This can save you money as well, by buying in bulk. By far, the most expensive place to buy snacks when traveling are the convenience stores attached to roadside gas stations. It’s best to hit the grocery before you leave for the best prices. Plus, when you get to your destination, just squish it down flat, and save space.

Electricity Power Inverter

Everyone knows that nowadays, the best “time-consuming” activities usually involve a TV, computer, or game system or some sort. If you are traveling with kids, this may be a great way to entertain them. These adapters, which plug into the cigarette lighter cost anywhere from $30-60 depending on wattage. These can power just about anything, including TVs, phone chargers, mini-refrigerators, etc. Just remember that they only work when the engine is running.

Activities Organizer

The best way to keep your children occupied is to provide them with so many things to do; they can barely pick what to start with! Anything from a small plastic storage bin to a activity tray could work. Some even hang over the back of the seat, so the child can easily grab what they need. Fill these with coloring books, crayons, snacks, games, and movies. You can even bring a cookie sheet with magnets to practice spelling, or colors and shapes!

Hopefully, your summer trips go smoothly and are worth the drive to reach your destination. If you are looking for a vehicle with great fuel economy, check out our inventory page for vehicle specifications as www.jimsigel.com.

Nissan Pathfinder Named to “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors” for 2013

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Sarah Myers

Obviously, the first thing you notice when you look at a car is the way it appears to you visually on the outside. But no matter how awesome the outside looks, if the inside is poorly built, or looks hideous (thank you maroon leather and orange carpeting of the 70s) you are much less likely to buy it. And let’s face it, as the driver you spend way more time inside that you do staring at the outside. That’s why we pride ourselves in classy, luxury vehicles inside and out, and the Nissan Pathfinder got noticed.

WardsAuto World recently named the 2013 Pathfinder to its annual “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors.” The recently re-designed Pathfinder is recognized for its comfortable, yet functional interior. After intensive evaluation of areas such as materials, ergonomics, safety, comfort, fit and finish, and value, WardsAuto World magazine editor Tom Murphy stated, “Nissan really did its homework in developing the all-new interior for the Pathfinder. It’s warm, inviting, spacious and ready for anything. From the thick, Berber carpet floor mats to the Dual Panorama Moonroof, the new Pathfinder is a fine example of graceful utility.”

The award will be presented during a ceremony in Dearborn, MI on May 22. The new fourth-generation Pathfinder seats up to seven passengers, and boasts best-in-class passenger volume, as well as best-in-class front headroom and legroom. In February, MotorWeek announced the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder as their winner in the “Best Large Utility” category at the Chicago Auto Show. Additionally, Popular Mechanics named the Nissan Pathfinder “Most Versatile” in its 2013 Automotive Excellence Awards.

The 2013 award-winning Pathfinder is available today at our Grants Pass location. For more info about the Pathfinder, read the model overview here.

2013 Chevrolet Cruze Named as one of U.S. News and World Report’s ‘Best Cars for Families’

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Sarah Myers

At Jim Sigel Automotive, we promise to only offer you the crème-de-la-crème of vehicles. We are proud to announce that the 2013 Chevy Cruze has been named one of the ‘Best Cars for Families’ by U.S. News and World Report this year for compact cars. The 2013 Cruze also ranks 5 out of 43 affordable small cars, so we promise you that quality doesn’t always mean high prices. Its smooth ride, impressive crash test scores and great fuel economy make it a first choice for small car shoppers.

Since you will be driving your Cruze with the kids in the backseat, Chevy focused on comfortable seating with large passenger room to keep kids happy. While commuting back and forth from ballet and football practice, moms will be happy to hear the vehicle gets 22city/35 highway miles per gallon. The interior was designed to give the cabin an expensive look and feel with high-quality materials and colors. The trunk is one of the largest in the class, providing plenty of room for groceries, camping trip gear, or just a Frisbee and a picnic basket for a day trip. And with above-average safety scores, parents can drive easy knowing the little ones are safe in Chevy’s hands.

“Sharp looks inside and out, top safety scores and capable handling are some of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze’s primary advantages in the small car marketplace. It’s also one of the most fuel-efficient small sedans you can buy, though this does depend on which model you choose.” — Edmunds

Happy April Fool’s Day from Honda!

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Sarah Myers

If you are the type of person that has let their world get so busy, you don’t even have time to cut your hair, then Honda has a solution for you!

Introducing Honda Hair, the latest in Honda accessories.

Simply clip the attachment up over the in-car vacuum offered in the new 2014 Honda Odyssey and let Honda Hair suck up the excess hair right off of your head. It’s good for beards, haircuts, and even pets. No hair is too much hair!

While this may not be the first item on your “to purchase” list, we agree that this little attachment was a pretty funny way for Honda to ring in April Fool’s Day. But if you are actually interested in the new in-car vacuum offered in the 2014 Odyssey, read more here. For now, we’ll just stick to selling cars at Jim Sigel Automotive.

Nissan Donates Robots to Local College

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Sarah Myers

Nissan logo Nissan is proud to announce its donation of two new robots to the Alcorn State Advanced Technologies program. Alcorn offers a degree program in robotics and automation technology where students learn how to program and operate the robots as they prepare for careers in manufacturing and technology industries. The ‘bots came from the Nissan Canton vehicle assembly plant, and the idea originated from one of the Canton employees, Jason Derryberry who happens to be a student at Alcorn.

Derryberry states, “I got tremendous encouragement and support from the Canton management team as we worked with Alcorn on this project…I’m excited because I work with similar technology every day, so I know what these robots will mean for the Alcorn program and my fellow students.”

The robots were originally used to weld car frames, and they can be programmed to perform welding and other tasks in the Alcorn lab. Derryberry plans to stay involved in helping students learn to use them.

At Jim Sigel Automotive, we are proud to be a Nissan dealership that supports its local schools and communities. The Nissan name should be known for more than just car production, and recognized as a business interested in the betterment of our nation. For more Nissan news, please visit www.nissannews.com or check out our website at www.jimsigel.com.

Fun Facts about Cars

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Automotive Dealer

We all know that cars have been around for a while, but here are a few things you may not know about car history!

The first cars didn’t have steering wheels. Instead, the drivers had to use levers. Can you imagine how scary that might be?

The first car radio was invented in 1929. So before that, I guess you just had to actually talk with your family on long road trips?

The automobile is the most recycled consumer product in the world today!

Over 90% of car owners admit to singing behind the wheel. Come on, we know you are one of those, right?

On average, a human spends two weeks of their entire lives waiting for a traffic light to change.

An airbag only takes 40 milliseconds to inflate after an accident.

The United States has almost one car per person. Even babies!

For more fun information on vehicles, and to see the latest lineup on Nissans, Chevys, and Hondas visit our site at www.jimsigel.com.

Honda Civic Named Top Safety Pick+

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Automotive Dealer

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety may have created stricter Top Safety Pick+ rules in order to push vehicle safety to a higher level, but that didn’t stop us from scoring the title! The new standards include a brutal small overlap test and require cars to get good ratings in four out of five categories.

Both the sedan and the coupe passed these tests and earned good ratings for small overlap protection. The small overlap test is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or object like a tree or utility pole. They also received good ratings in the Institute’s moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear tests.

The Civic, coming off its refresh for 2013, is the first small car to be subjected to the small overlap test, and IIHS says that one of the car’s many upgrades includes a stiffer front structure allowing it to receive Good ratings in all categories. It was the first small car to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award!

For more information on the Honda Civic, please visit www.jimsigel.com or come into our Grants Pass location to test drive one today!

Nissan Redesigns New York Taxis

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Automotive Dealer

Did you know that over 600,000 people catch a cab each year in New York City?

In 2011, Nissan won the bid to completely redesign the often used New York Taxi Cabs. The project was called New York City’ Taxi of Tomorrow. The new taxis will appear on the streets of NYC starting this fall.

But before any of that can happen, Nissan has a number of official milestone meetings to attend. Each of these meetings will continue to refine the design before it’s put into service. One such meeting took place in Arizona last fall for NYC officials to give a first-ride review. Last month, another of these milestone meetings was held in Manhattan, where NYC officials evaluated the vehicles on the streets.

“You feel like the space is designed for you, the passenger, as opposed to the taxis that we have today where it is kind of a thrown together feel,” said Commissioner David Yassky, New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

We’re just hoping the redesigns include the lighting systems used in Cash Cab. For more information on the latest Nissan News, check our blog weekly for new posts. Or visit us at www.jimsigel.com.

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